Anxiety Quote by William Hazlitt
“A situation in a public office is secure, but laborious and mechanical, and without the great springs of life, hope and fear.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "On the Nature of Public Service", 1825
Public office offers security but is tedious and lifeless; lacking vitality, hope, and fear leads to stagnation
In simple terms: Secure jobs can be dull, lacking hope and fear
Key Takeaway
Seek purpose beyond routine work
Themes
routine
security
existence
Mood
contemplative
neutral
Type
analytical
motivational
When to use this quote
- government work
- corporate job
- bureaucracy
- volunteer work
Key Concepts
sociology
philosophy
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you inject vitality into routine tasks?
- What role does fear play in motivating effort?
A Different Perspective
Mechanical work may still provide meaning if purpose is found
![“Some things are up to us [eph' hêmin] and some things are not up to us. Our opinions are up to us, and our impulses, desires, aversions–in short, whatever is our own doing. Our bodies are not up to us, nor are our possessions, our reputations, or our public offices, or, that is, whatever is not…” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/28e/epictetus-413_aversion_some-things-are-up-to-us-eph-h-min-and-s_162002.jpg)
